Page 47 of Chained

“Nest?” I look at Maxym in search of an answer.

He shoves a large piece of meat into his mouth and glowers at Retah. “I will nest when it is safe to do so,” he rasps.

“I’ve heard a Gryn nest is something to behold,” Retah says, shoving a bowl of mashed root vegetables down at Maxym.

He takes the bowl, lifting his lips to reveal fangs. “A Gryn nest is for his mate alone,” he says.

It’s then I feel it, like a blast of icy air. Maxym’s confusion, his desperation, the deep, deep need to be more than he is. He knows he needs to nest—he feels it deep in his bones, and it’s something which occupies too much of his mind, but he doesn’t think he can do it.

“I’d like a nest,” I say.

“You would?” His dark gaze rests on me.

“We have plenty of space down here. Why not nest now?” I suggest, looking over at Retah.

“Yes!” he exclaims. “I’m sure you can find what you need, or at least that’s what I’ve heard about Gryn.”

Maxym looks around us and then shakes his head. “Not the right time.” He goes back to eating.

I rub my hand on his muscular arm. “Is there ever a right time? War, games, invasions, births, deaths. They all go on regardless of anything else in our personal lives. Do what makes you comfortable.”

I realize why I’ve been on edge for so long. It’s because of him, because he wanted to do something which is part of his DNA, part of what his species is, and he hasn’t been able to do it, or that’s what he thought.

“Do it for me, if that makes it any easier,” I breathe.

Maxym gives the others around the table a hunted look, grabs a handful of meat, and then he’s on his feet with a swish of feathers, stalking farther into the basement with a brief backwards glance at me.

“Eat,” Tibi says to me. “You’re going to need your strength if his resolve is anything to go by.”

“What do you…” I start my sentence and then catch her eye. “Seriously? This is worse than bringing my first boyfriend home to meet my parents.” I shake my head at the pair of them.

“I’ve heard Gryn can be quiet lovers,” Retah says. “Or at least, that’s what Tibi has told me.”

Tibi’s shoulders start to shake.

“Stop it, stop it,” I choke out as Retah attempts to contain his mirth. “I expected better from both of you.”

“I know if you weren’t already with young, that Gryn would have put a youngling in your belly after the noises my ears caught.” Tibi guffaws. “And for the record, it’s not Gryn I heard.”

“Tibi!” I gasp, shocked, shaking my head and trying to hide my embarrassed smile. “I can’t believe the pair of you.”

“I’m just pleased you’ve found someone, and we can finally talk about your youngling,” Retah says as he bites into a sticky iced treat. “We fully expected you to birth before mentioning it. Is this a human thing?”

I’m not entirely sure I can speak, as Maxym walks past us purposefully, arms filled with items including fabrics, into another part of the basement, where I hear crashing noises.

“It’s going to be one spectacular nest,” Retah murmurs as we look in the direction of the noise.

“You’ll need to tell us all about it,” Tibi adds. “But keep eating. You’re going to need the energy.”

Tibi isn’t wrong. It feels like forever since I ate toasted bread with Maxym, and I’m ravenous once again. I hope he comes back to finish up once he’s done making his nest because a huge male like him needs far more fuel than he’s eaten.

“Nest is more important.”The words form in my head, and I know they belong to him.

“Then I’ll save you some,”I think back.

Warmth spreads through my body, a warmth which can only come from love. Whether it’s my love or his, I don’t know, butI like it, and for the first time in forever, this galaxy feels like home.

CLEO

---